View towards Rivenhall Church

This church has a fascinating history. The remains of a Roman villa were uncovered while graves were being dug. During 1951-1952 excavations uncovered more of the villa. In 1971 a small excavation against the south wall of the chancel resulted in evidence of a pre-historic occupation of the site dating from the late Iron Age, and above this the remains of a first century A.D. roman masonry building. Its foundations were shown to be two periods Saxon and 14th century. This extended the known history of the church back beyond the earliest recorded historical date of 1185. There have probably been Christians worshipping at the site since at least 800 AD and probably earlier. By the 19th century Rivenhall church had an early Georgian tower and window at the west end. However, in 1837-39 Lord Western of Felix Hall, Kelvedon, gutted the structure and totally remodelled both its internal and external appearance. Brick, plaster and cement were the only materials used. Later, the Curate the Rev’d Bradford Hawkins, purchased from Chenu in France some 12th century stained glass now contained in the East window.